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Wednesday, April 9, 2008

More to it than I thought!

Well, here it is Wednesday and I haven't yet implemented a schedule... Boo hoo, woe is me, I'm such a bad mom. No, not really. I could be tempted to feel guilty, but I'm not taking the bait. I am realizing that there is a lot more preparation that goes into making a schedule than I originally thought.

I used to read The Little House books and think, maybe their schedule could work for me! It sounds so quaint:

"Wash on Monday

Iron on Tuesday

Churn on Wednesday

Mend on Thursday

Clean on Friday

Bake on Saturday

Rest on Sunday"

It's simple and easy to remember, right?! But, then I remember that I don't iron, churn, mend, bake, or sometimes clean. So, I guess that's out.This book (Managers of Their Homes) is making me write out all the activities I want to have in my day, in 30 minute increments. And then I would write one for each of the girls. Sounds simple, right? HA! It may take a little work, but I can see the benefits in the end result. When Gracie asks me "What can I do, Mom?" I can say, "Go look at your schedule." I also really like the suggestion to schedule sibling play times. For example, if I want to work with Olivia on her letters and such, I can have Gracie playing and reading to Joy Joy during that slot. Many of the "test moms" for the book are praising the fact that their children do not bicker nearly as much anymore, especially since play times don't just run on and on... you know, until someone starts yelling. ;-)There are some activities that I for sure want to squeeze in... DevotionsWorship/DanceScripture memoryBible storyChoresTable time (schooling, art, etc.)ReadingPlayNap!What other types of activities are important to you, my fellow Mommy friends?~christa jean

5 comments:

This probably fits under play or reading time, but I would have to add cuddle time and making sure to tell the kids I love them It's amazing how something so easy and simple can be skipped. I would dito you on the rest it's a great list, if only we could do it all in one day!! Oh Exercise too!

I like the idea of having scheduled table time too. When I set aside a specific amount of time for art and crafty things, well, Grace really loves that. Especially if I sit down and do a project with her.

I love the idea... maybe I need to find that book. I am amazed at how quickly 30 minutes pass with out me realizing it - especially on those days that Maggy gets up before I do, which means no shower till her morning nap... setting my alarm for 6:30 am tonight!

That's my new "schedule". 15 or 30 minutes doing something purposeful (Thanks Flylady for the idea!). My timer is in teh shape of an egg:)

Christa, I love how you just bunched all of the work together under "chores". Heehee.Makes it look so simple.

I like Managers of Their Homes. Great book. But for me, maybe it is having 6 kids, 18 months to 18 years, or something, but I tried to simplify things and THEN make my schedule. I was all excited to have that schedule, knowing I'd be more free. I remember Inga Canon talking about having a schedule in order to be flexible. After all, one can't be flexible w/o something to flex, right?

Anyway, I worked and worked it a bunch of different ways. My end result? There were not enough hours in the day to get it all done!

So I'm back to being even more simple, having a To Do list for the day, week, month, etc. and just knocking out as many as I can, then transferring what is left to the next day.

But I know people with more children than I, who are organized and follow a schedule. I best not compare huh? Us creative over achiever types get sorta flighty in our attempts don't we?

Here is my transformation story, an expose` really. Words. Written on pages in my heart. They flow from my fingers to you. Holding out hope that, in the writing, I will be made whole. And in the reading, you will find rest.